We often talk about pasture-raised chickens and eggs here at The Kitchn, so I thought I would share this wonderful short film that helps to explain what the term 'pastured' really means and why it is important.
This film is from Douglas Gayeton, a writer, photographer, filmmaker and advocate for sustainable living. Over the last several years, he has been working with his wife Laura Howard-Gayeton on The Lexicon of Sustainability to educate people about where their food comes from and how we can support the farmers who are engaging in sustainable practices.
For more information, and links to more of the Gayton's films on PBS, visit the Lexicon of Sustainability website.
Related:
• Douglas Gayeton's Lexicon of Sustainability
• Slow: Life in a Tuscan Town by Douglas Gayeton
• On Why I Pay $7.50 for a Dozen Eggs
(Image: Dana Velden)
How To Make Perfect Bacon in the Oven
Perfect Summer Cocktail Recipe: Honey Bourbon Lemonade
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
Elizabeth Apron fro...
100 DIY Ideas for the 3-Day Weekend
Danielle's Charming, Classic Walk-Up
That's all well and nice to hear one person's opinion, but ultimately the consumer has 2 choices: look up the legal meaning, or go all Portlandia on their ass and visit the farm. Not that certified farms are guaranteed to follow the rules; but as far as I know, Humane Certified is the ONLY label that requires half-decent treatment of the animals. That's what we buy, and I'm fairly confident the animals are treated okay, if not perfect.
Can you still buy battery eggs?! In the UK and most of Europe the EEA made battery farming chickens illegal as of January this year. A number supermarkets in the UK had already stopped stocking them because of a public campaign. In addition we have a legal definition of free range - its not a marketing term, it's not much better than that displayed in the video but there has to be at least one hectare of open range per 2500 hens.
Yes, in the USA you can buy battery hens and actually a lot of EU eggs are still battery because of several big egg producing countries haven't complied.
Thanks for the video. Yes, we try and buy pastured eggs as much as possible. I wish defintions were stricter.
There's nothing wrong with visiting a farm, or at least having the opportunity to. Most of your local pastured egg purveyors won't be offended if you ask questions about how they raise their eggs - they're doing it that way BECAUSE they think it's important and they're more than willing to show pics of their chickens, etc. Plus, buying local eggs means you get to have a relationship with the producer, and you get way WAY fresher eggs.